Wausau committee votes 11-0 to enter closed session to consider continued engagement of CIDMEC-appointed counsel

The Committee of the Whole for the City of Wausau voted 11-0 Monday to enter closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(g) to consult with legal counsel and consider continued engagement of CIDMEC-appointed legal counsel in a matter before the city’s ethics board involving a citizen complaint against Mayor Denny.

The vote came after a motion by Lukens, a member of the Committee of the Whole, who said, “I move that we go we enter into closed session pursuant to 19.85 sub 1 sub g of the Wisconsin statutes for conferring with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved, to receive report from and make recommendation to counsel regarding continued engagement of CIDMEC appointed legal counsel to represent the city and unelected city staff in the manner current matter currently pending before the city's ethics board pertaining to the citizen complaint filed against mayor Denny and related actions.” Watson, a member of the committee, seconded the motion.

The clerk conducted a roll-call vote; Martins, Killian, Neil, Gisleman, McElaney, Rasmuson, Watson, Tierney, Larson and Henke all voted aye, producing an 11-0 result. The presiding officer announced, “Motion passes 11 to 0,” and directed the group to convene the closed session in the Maple Room. The committee indicated it will return to the chamber if there is action to take following the closed session.

No substantive discussion of the underlying ethics complaint or legal strategy occurred in open session. The formal action recorded in the public minutes was the unanimous vote to enter closed session under the cited statute and the direction to receive a report and consider a recommendation concerning continued engagement of CIDMEC-appointed counsel.